Rattler with clock face



June 1965 R. L. MOTLEY RATTLER WITH CLOCK FACE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 16, 1961 4. 2 a 5 a 4 a w "917", 6 4 4 4 A 2 2 u Z I W m Tivak F 3 m w 4 3 Ruben L. Marley.

1N VEN TOR.

June 22, 1965 MQTLEY RATTLER WITH CLOCK FACE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 16, 1961 m f/l/I/lr/r/ Haber? L. Maf/e w ZNVENTOR.

Hill.

June 22, 1965 R. 1.. MOTLEY RATTLER WITH CLOCK FACE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 16, 1961 Fig. 7

Robert L. Morley INVENTOR.

6 Ill/Ill, i '1' "'1" Fig. 8

June 22, 1965 R. L. MOTLEY 3,190,036

RATTLER WITH CLOCK FACE Fi led Jan. 16, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Robert L. Morley INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,19%,036 EATILER WITH QLGQK FACE Robert L. Motley, Dayton, Ulric i Enright St, West Haven, tConn.) Filed Lian. 16, 1961, Ser. No. 82,388 6 Qlairns. C1. id-1'75) The present invention generally relates to a novel rattler structure for use by small children or infants and' incorporates a novel structural arrangement in which the rattler is provided with a simulated clock face.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a baby rattler of the type in which the rattling elements are moved by movable elements disposed within the interior of the rattler and being operable from the exterior thereof.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a hollow rattler for babies in which the rattler is provided with a simulated clock face thereon together with movable hands disposed interiorly thereof which hands are rotated in such a manner that they will cause agitation of rattling elements thereby increasing the effectiveness of the rattler in attracting attention of the infant while at the same time associating the infant with color and effects by enabling them to move hands to cause the rattles to produce noise and also at the same time associating the infant with numerals appearing on a clock face and generally associating the infant with the relationship of the clock hands to the clock face.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a baby rattler in which the exterior casing is formed in the shape of the letters of the alphabet, numerals or any other suitable object thus enabling the infant to become associated with the alphabetical letter, numeral or other objects.

Still another feature of the present invention is to provide :a baby rattler in which the rattler is provided with a novel handle connected thereto together with noise producing mechanisms engageable by the movement of the hand behind the simulated clock face.

Still another important feature of the present invention is to provide a baby rattler which may be rolled along the floor surface by providing a tire thereon and a handle attached thereto.

Yet another important feature of the present invention is to provide a baby rattler which is simple in construction, easy to use, constructed of well known material, such as plastic, wood, metal or the like and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Still another feature of the present invention is to pro vide a rattler in accordance with the preceding object hav ing a checkerboard arrangement thereon together with square rattlers so that the square rattlers or a single rattler may be moved by the infant along the surface of the checkerboard, thus associating the child with a checkerboard and the movement of the game pieces thereon.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a baby rattler having various types of rattling devices disposed interiorly thereof and which has a clock face thereon and movable hands which act as agitating devices or for moving the rattling element interiorly of the housmg.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the baby rattler of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal, vertical sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line di it-356 Patented June 22, 1965 2-2 of FIGURE 1 illustrating the details of construction of the invention;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 3-3 of Fl URE 2 illustrating further structural details of the rattler;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view illustrating a modified form of the present invention;

FIGURE 5 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line S-5 of FIGURE 4 illustrating the internal structural details of this form of the invention;

FIGURE 6 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 6-6 of FIGURE 5 illustrating further structural details of this form of the invention;

FIGURE 7 is a vertical sectional view similar to FIG- URE 5 but illustrating another modified form of the invention in which noise producing mechanisms are mounted;

FIGURE 8 is a detailed section view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 88 of FIGURE 7 illustrating further structural details of this form of the invention;

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of another form of the invention in which the rattler is rolled along a floor surface or the like;

FIGURE 10 is a front elevational view of the rattler il' lustrating the clock face disposed thereon;

FIGURE 11 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 11-1l 0f FIGURE 10, on an enlarged scale, and illustrating the structural details of this form of the invention; and

FIGURE 12 is a detailed sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 12-12 of FIGURE 11 illustrating the manner of mounting the hands on the rattler.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the numeral ltl generally designates the rattler of the present invention which is illustrated in FIGURES 1-3 of the drawings. The rattler it? includes a hollow casing generally designated by the numeral 112 and which is conveniently illustrated as being in the form of a FIGURE 8 in that the casing 12 is provided with two generally circular compartments l4 and 16 which are intercommunicated at the center and point of juncture generally designated by reference numeral 18. The casing 12 includes a front wall or panel 2% and a rear wall or panel 22 and a peripheral wall 24 integral with the front wall and attached to the rear wall 22 by any suitable means such as an adhesive or any suitable binder. The device may be constructed of any suitable material such as plastic or the like.

At what may be considered the bottom of the casing 12 there is provided a generally U-shaped handle 26 attached to the peripheral wall 24 by any suitable means thus providing convenient means for handling the rattler.

Disposed interiorly of the compartment 14 is a cylindrical partition wall 28 and disposed in the compartment 16 is a cylindrical partition wall 30 which are in spaced concentric relation to the portions of the peripheral wall 24- which form the compartments 14- and 16 thus defining annular tracks 32 and 34 for movement of a plurality of small objects 36 which are in the form of rattler elements and which may be conveniently shaped to various configurations such as known objects. As illustrated in FIG- URE 3, such objects include a banana, pear and a belltype of rattling element.

Disposed within the confines of the cylindrical partition wall 36} is a plurality of rattler elements 38 of circular configuration and rattler element 40 of square or block type configuration. The front face 20 which overlies the partition Wall 3% is provided with a checkerboard design 42 thereon whereby a child may associate the ml rattler elements 38 or 40 in relation to the checkerboard design 42 thus enabling the infant to become acquainted with a checkerboard and the relationship of game pieces thereon. As illustrated in FIGURE 1,-the checkerboard design 42 overlies the cylindrical member 30- thus assuring that the rattler elements 38 and 40 will be associated therewith.

The area ofthe front wall overlying the cylindrical wall or partition 38 is provided with a simulated clock face thereon which includes the usual numerical indicia 44 arranged in the manner of a clock face. Disposed interiorly of the cylindrical partition 28 is a plurality of cylindrical type rattler elements 46 such as rollers or the like which are movable around the periphery of the cylindrical Wall 28. Also, the front wall is provided with an inwardly projecting shaft or rod 48 having a simulated clock hand 50 mounted thereon by virtue of a cylindrical sleeve or bushing 52 which is rotatably journalled-on the rod or shaft 48. The outer end of the hand 50 is provided with a lateral projection 54 which will act as a bat when moving peripherally about the inner surface of the cylindrical wall 28 whereby the projection 54 will engage the rattling elements 46 and cause them to be moved around within the interior of the cylindrical partition wall 28. Also, the hand 50 will be associated with the numerical indicia 44 for indicating the time and generally enabling the child to associate the relationship between the numerals on a clock face and the hands.

As will be clearly evident, there are three separate sets of rattlers with some of them being movable in the tracks 32and 34, some of them being movable within the confines of the cylindrical wall and some of them being movable within the confines of the cylindrical wall 28.. The rotatable bat 50 is for the purpose of agitating the-rattler element 46 and for association with the numerical indicia 44 and the rattler element 38 and are for association with the checkerboard design formed on the lower cylindrical portion of the casing 12. While the casing has been illustrated in the form of the numeral 8, the casing could be formed in any suitable manner including the shape of the letters of the alphabet, numerals and other known objects such as pieces of fruit, nuts or the like.

Referring now specifically to FIGURES 4-6 of the drawings, the numeral 60 generally designates a modified-form of the. present invention which may also be considered in the shape of the letter of the alphabet or the numeral zero and includes a generally cylindrical casing designated by reference numeral 62.

The casing 62 includes a cylindrical peripheral wall 64, the rear wall 66 and an annular front wall 68 joined with the forward edge of the peripheral wall 64. The front wall 68 is annular in configuration and extends radially inwardly only a portion of the diameter of the peripheral wall 64. Integral with the front wall 68 is an inner peripheral wall 70 disposed in spaced concentric relation to the peripheral wall 64 and extending only partially toward the rear wall 66. Integral with the inner peripheral wall 70 is a central front wall 72 which is spaced from and parallel to the rear wall 66. The outer surface of the central front wall 72 is provided with numerical indicia 74 thus simulating a clock face. Attached to the rear Wall 66 is a generally U-shaped handle 76extending diametrically thereof and formed integrally therewith whereby the rattler may be quite easily handled by a child.

The particular configuration of the rattler housing 62 is illustrated in FIGURE 5 and generally forms a cylindrical trackway designated by numeral 78 in which there is provided a plurality of ball type rattler elements 80. The central front wall 72 is provided with a rearwardly extending axle or shaft 82 Which is integral therewith and which is disposed adjacent the rear wall 66. Journalled on the shaft or axle 82 is a pair of hands 84 which is a relatively short hand and 86 which is a relatively long hand thus simulating the two hands normally found on a clock. The two hands 84 and 86 are free to rotate upon the shaft or axle 82 and the outer end of the hand 84 is provided with a forwardly extending projection 88 while the outer end of the hand 86 is provided with a forwardly extending projection 90. As illustrated in FIGURE 5, the projection 88 is disposed closely adjacent the inner surface of the inner peripheral wall 76 while the projection 90 is disposed closely adjacent the peripheral Wall 64 whereby rotation of the hands 84 and 86 will assure that the rattler elements 8i) will be agitated due to engagement of the projections 88 and 90 therewith.

Each of the projections 88 and 90 is provided with an aperture 2 extending therethrough and also a socket 94 disposed therein but which does not extend completely through the respective projections. The aperture 92 is of a sufiicient diameter to enable passage of the balls 86 therethrough while the socket or recess 94 is of suflicient diameter to receive the balls and convey them upwardly whereby they will be dropped out of the socket'at a position generally directly above the bottom of the casing and thus cause noise as they roll downwardly from the top to the bottom of the casing.

This form of the invention may also be constructed of plastic in which the back plate or wall 66 is bonded to the peripheral wall 64 or any suitable type of connection may be employed such as a snap-on type of connection, screw-on type of connection or the like depending upon the particular materials involved. In this form of the invention as well as in the other forms, rotation of the hand will serve as bats for the rattler elements thus producing noise and at the same time providing a highly entertaining rattler and associating the child with the numerals on a clock face and the relationship of the hands with the clock to such numerals.

Referring now specifically to FIGURES 8 and 9 of the drawings, the numeral 100 generally designates another form of the rattler of the present-invention which includes substantially the same structural arrangement as illustrated in FIGURES 4 and 6 except that the peripheral wall 64 is longer and the inner peripheral Wall 70' is longer. The annular outer wall 68' is thicker in construction and the remainder of the structure is the same as that illustrated in FIGURES 4 and 6 and the same reference numerals are employed to designate the same parts. The projections 88' and are slightly different in that they are provided with generally squarecut ends rather than rounded ends as in the construction of FIGURES 4-6. However, the association of the rattler elements 80 and the hands 84 and 86 and the remainder of the structure remains the same except that the terminal ends of the projections 88' and 9'0 are spaced considerably from the front wall 68.

In this form of the invention the front face or Wall 53' is provided with a plurality of inwardly projecting members 102 in which the outer ends thereof are embedded in the thickened front wall 68 and the inner ends thereof are disposed in the path of movement of the ends of the projections 88 and 9t? whereby movement of the hands 84 and 86 will cause a noise to be produced by passage of the projections 88 and 90 pass the projections 102 which are quite flexible and which are constructed of metal, plastic or the like for producing a noise. As illustrated, the projections 102 are disposed in radial alignment with the numerical indicia and the properties of these projections may be such that as the hands pass them a noise will be made simulating pronunciation of the particular numeral with which the projection 102 is radially associated thereby instructing the child in producing sounds which in effect are pronunciations of the numeral appearing on the clock face.

FIGURES 9-12 illustrate another form of the invention generally designated by numeral ljttl which includes a cylindrical eripheral Wall 112, a rear wall 114, a front annular wall 116, an inner peripheral wall 11$ and an inner central wall 120 all interconnected substantially in the same manner as the construction illustrated in FIG- URES 4-6. The rear wall 114 is provided with a U- shaped handle 12?. and a pair of bats 124 and 12-6 in the form of clock hands are provided which are similar to the hands 84 and 86 in FIGURES 4-5. Projections 128 and 130 are provided which are similar to the projections 88 and 90 in FIGURES 45 and have a similar structure and are associated with the remainder of the structure in the same manner. This particular construction, the central front Wall 126 is provided with a square projecting axle or rod 132 for locking engagement with the hands 124 and 126. The hands 124 and 126 have a square sleeve 134 engagcd with the rod 132 so that the hands 124 and 126 are effectively fixed in relation to the peripheral Wall 112 and the entire casing.

Positioned exteriorly of the peripheral wall 112 is a sleeve 5.36 of rubber or similar material which serves to increase the traction so that the device may be rolled along a floor surface and whereby the rattler will be rotated about a central axis. This will enable the rattler to be used as a wheeled toy with the handle 13-2 being attached to an elongated rod or handle 133 extending perpendicularly to the axis of the rod or shaft 132 and the handle 138 is rotatably attached to the handle 122 by a rivet, bolt or other suitable fastener 14% as illustrated in FIGURE ll. A friction washer or bearing element 3.42 may be provided between the handle 12?; and the handle 13%. Thus, with this form of the invention, the rattler may be employed as a wheeled toy so that the infant may still employ it after learning to walk. In other words, the rattler could be initially employed While the infant is unable to Walk and then converted to a wheeled toy after the child learns to Wal'... For this purpose the fastener Mil could well be a detachable type of fastener such as a bolt or the like and the resilient sleeve 136 could be of the type which is removable and may be retained in place by the resiliency of the material from which it is constructed or may be glued into place when converting the rattler from a hand rattler to a rolling type rattler. In line with this, there could be a suitable structural arrangement so that the hand could be locked to the shaft rather than being rotatable in relation thereto such as would be employed in the hand type of rattle The various forms of the invention may be either in the form of a handshake rattler or a wrist shake rattler, that is, they may be attached to the wrist with a suitable wristband, and of course, the cylindrical arrangement may be converted to a push-type rolling rattler and all of the devices are preferably constructed of plastic and are preferably transparent so that the movement of the rattler elements and the clock hands may be observed by the child thus further enhancing the intriguing qualities of the rattler. All of the interior surfaces are smooth and rounded so that the rattler elements may freely move around the interior thereof and will not become engaged with any sharp points. The rattler elements may be of various shapes such as cylindrical rollers illustrated in FIGURES 1-3, or these elements could be triangular, square or rectangular in cross-sectional configuration. The number of rattler elements may vary as long as there is a plurality of such elements to provide the child with sufiicient articles to make an adequate noise. Further, the transparency of the rattler case may be further enhanced by providing rattling elements of different colors, shapes and configurations so that the child may associate colors and shapes of known objects.

The numerals on the clock face may be formed as a plurality of small holes or cut-outs, raised portions or colored areas and may be in the form of Roman numerals or added pieces of material so that the actual numerical value of the numeral may be observed. The numbers which form the clock face could also be formed on a piece of paper and glued or otherwise attached to the transparent casing and the numerals could project from the surface of the casing so that a child could actually feel the numerals to become acquainted with the shape and configuration of the numerals. In lieu of the rigid U-shaped handle attached to the back of the casing, the handle could be of a flexible nature or of a resilient nature such as rubber or the like for attachment to the wrist of the infant using the device. Thus, the clock face would simulate a wristwatch and the projections on the interior of the casing could make a sound simulating the tick tock of a watch or clock thus associating the child With such a sound.

Also, the hands which form bats for the wrapper elements actually pass by each other and these may be formed in the shape of various letters of the alphabets such as L-shaped and these components may be considered as vehicles passing each other or considered any of a number of objects by the child. Generally speaking, the outer casing may be provided with a snap-on piece on the back which may be shaped as a letter of the alphabet or a numeral if desired, thus further enhancing the educational qualities of the rattler.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A baby rattler comprising a casing, a. plurality of rattler elements disposed in said casing for free movement in relation thereto, and means in said casing for agitating said rattler elements, said casing being provided with a circular front Wall portion, indicia 0n the front wall portion for simulating the numerals of a clock face, said means within the casing for agitating the rattler elements including at least one arm simulating a clock hand, means freely rotatably mounting the arm coincidental with the center of the circular front Wall portion, the outer end of said arm having a lateral projection for engagement with the rattler elements and moving the rattler elements during rotation of the arm.

2. The structure as defined in claim it wherein said casing is provided with projecting tines engageable by the projection, said tines being aligned with the numerical indicia for producing sounds simulating the numerals when spoken with which the tines are associated.

3-. A baby rattler comprising a hollow casing, a plurality of rattler elements disposed in said casing for free movement in relation thereto, said casing being of transparent plastic construction, said rattler elements being colored and having a configuration simulating known objects, said casing being of cylindrical configuration, a circular rear plate attached to the cylindrical casing, a transversely extending U-shaped handle rigidly attachcd to the rearplate for manipulating the rattler, means for agitating the rattler elements including a pair of transverse arms rotatably connected with the interior of the casing for moving the rattler elements interiorly of the casing as the casing is rotated.

4. A baby rattler comprising a hollow casing, a plurality of rattler elements disposed in said casing for free movement in relation thereto, said casing being of transparent plastic construction, said rattler elements being colored and having a configuration simulating known objects, said casing being of cylindrical configuration, a circular rear plate attached to the cylindrical casing, a transversely extending U-shaped handle rigidly attached to the rear plate for manipulating the rattler, means for agitating the rattler elements including a pair of transverse arms rotatably connected with the interior of the casing for moving the rattler elements interiorly of the casing as the casing is rotated, each arm being provided with a lateral projection, each projection having an opening for passage of the rattler elements therethrough and a socket for receiving the rattler elements and lifting the rattler elements to an elevated position for release thereof at an elevated position thereby enhancing the noise producing qualities of the rattler.

5. A baby rattler construction comprising a hollow casing, a plurality of rattler elements disposed in said casing for free movement in relation thereto, and means mounted interiorly of said casing for movement in relation to the casing and the rattler elements therein for agitating the rattler elements by engagement therewith, said means disposed within the casing including at least one arm rotatably mounted on the interior of the casing for engaging and moving the rattler elements interiorly of the casing as the casing is moved in a rotatable manner, said arm being provided with a lateral projection adjacent the outer end thereof, said projection defining a bat for engaging and moving the rattler elements, said projection being provided with an opening therein for passage of some of the rattler elements therethrough, said projection also having a socket for receiving certain of the rattler elements and lifting the rattler elements to an elevated position for release thereof at an 2 elevated position thereby enhancing the noise producing qualities of the rattler elements.

6. A baby rattler construction comprising a hollow casing, a plurality of rattler elements disposed in said casing for free movement in relation thereto, and means mounted interiorly of said casing for movement in relation to the casing and the rattler elements therein for agitating the rattler elements by engagement therewith, said means disposed within the casing including at least one arm of L-shaped configuration having one end of one leg rotatably mounted on the interior of the casing, the other leg engaging and movingthe rattler elements interiorly of the casing as the casing is moved in a rotatable manner thereby moving the said other leg of the arm in a circular path.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 159,667 8/50 Ross.

464,863 12/91 Gay 46--193 1,574,341 2/26 Feldstein 46-193 2,626,481 1/53 Toombs et al 46-193 2,770,159 11/56 Kato 46-175 DELBERT B. LOWE, Primary Examiner.

EVON C. BLUNK, JAMES W. LOVE, RICHARD C.

PINKHAM, Examiners. 

3. A BABY RATTLER COMPRISING A HOLLOW CASING, A PLURALITY OF RATTLER ELEMENTS DISPOSED IN SAID CASING FOR FREE MOVEMENT IN RELATION THERETO, SAID CASING BEING OF TRANSPARENT PLASTIC CONSTRUCTION, SAID RATTLER ELEMENTS BEING COLORED AND HAVING A CONFIGURATION SIMULATING KNOWN OBJECTS, SAID CASING BEING OF CYLINDRICAL CONFIGURATION A CIRCULAR REAR PLATE ATTACHED TO THE CYLINDRICAL CASING, A TRANSVERSELY EXTENDING U-SHAPED HANDLE RIGIDLY ATTACTED TO THE REARPLATE FOR MANIPULATING THE RATTLER, MEANS FOR AGITATING THE RATTLER ELEMENTS INCLUDING A PAIR OF TRANSVERSE ARMS ROTATABLY CONNECTED WITH THE INTERIOR OF THE CASING FOR MOVING THE RATTLER ELEMENTS INTERIORLY OF THE CASING AS CASING IS ROTATED. 